Choosing Delica Colours
Something that always shocks me is that when you put two tubes of delicas next to each other they may look different but side by side in beadwork they will look almost identical. Colours like white and yellow can merge together so easily.
This is one reason why if you buy patterns that have not been tested you might find the recommend colours don't quite look as they should. It is always wise to bead a small sample piece of the colours you are using to check they will work together.
As a designer I find myself spending a very long time mulling over colours and what will work and where. Sometimes even I get it wrong when I am using a new colour and have to pull my work apart and redesign it as it is not quite working as it should.
Miyuki have well over 1250 individual colours to choose from. You might think that is a lot. But actually it isn't really, some colours are the same with different finishes. I find that sometimes when you put two similar colours together, for them to stand out against each other you may need a different finish to highlight the difference.
Something to remember is not all Delicas are created equal. Now you might be shocked to hear this, after all Delicas are known for their uniformity. But take a look at the vast array of finishes and colours you can get in Delicas. Some colours are within the glass yet others are dyed, have additional glazes or are even plated. All these finished can create microscopic differences in the size of the bead.
Now you might think microscopic differnces aren't that big a deal, but in some circumstances they can be. These differences are likely to create distortions within the beadwork like making beadwork wonky or wobbly. Think of how you are using beads in a project and whether a slight difference could cause a problem, for instance joining beadwork together, creating a pattern, needing a nice sharp line etc. If I am to be working with Round Peyote, I know that to combine a galvanised duracoat with a transparent bead may not work, or my design would have to cater for this.
Some finishes are actually more brittle than others, such as Satin or Silk beads. They are beautiful but only use in 3D work at your own peril - they are known to easily chip and break and should really only be used in work which does not put much pressure on the beads.